I can't write and I can't sing, I can't do anything
I can't read and I can't spell, I can't even get to hell
I can't love and I can't hate, I can't even hesitate
I can't dance and I can't walk, I can't even try to talk

Freddy tried to strangle me with my plastic popper beads
But I hit him back, with my pet rat
Yeah I hit him back, with my pet rat

I can't spit and I can't kick, I can't even be thick
I can't read and I can't spell, I can't even get to hell
I can't love and I can't hate, I can't even hesitate
I can't dance and I can't walk, I can't even try to talk

Freddy tried to strangle me with my plastic popper beads
But I hit him back, with my pet rat
Yeah I hit him back, with my pet rat
Yeah I hit him back, with my pet rat
Yeah I hit him back, with my pet rat

General CommentGood song but I have no idea how the whole "freddy tried to strangle me with my plastic popper beads but i hit him back with my pet rat" thing fits into the song. haha, but I like the way Poly rolls her R's when she says rat.

General CommentMaybe it's about restriction, you can't do anything without being told off and you're lucky enough to be allowed to breathe! Pretty much like today really lol but that's another thing about Poly's lyrics, a lot of them still have a strong meaning/message in today's society. Seriously underrated I think.

Not entirely sure what the "popper beads" and "pet rat" lines are about though...

General CommentI always thought that it was just like "I'm not good at anything", (like 'I can't write and sing, I can't do anything...I can't read and I can't spell', etc) but the not being allowed part also makes sense.

General Comment"Freedom tried to strangle me with my plastic popper beads" - that could be about sexism. Necklaces (or any jewelry really) are usually more associated with femininity than masculinity, so, it actually makes sense to me. I think this is song is saying that girls are restricted by gender roles. The line, "I hit him back with my pet rat" could simply mean that Poly doesn't care and that she will do what she wants.

General CommentIt is a song about how women are constantly oppressed and abused, to the point where they aren't allowed to do anything and no one, including themselves, sometimes, believes they can support themselves. Or, at least that's what I think when I hear this song, and it fits with the whole "Freddy tried to strangle me.." thing. Took me forever to figure this out, so tell me what you think!

@VerbalVeNom yea. i take the chorus pretty literally. "i cant write... i cant love... cant even get into hell," these are all the justifications this dude uses to abuse her. racism factors too. too many men + boys still dont regard black + brown girls as people on their same levels. they talk down to us in this exact way that poly writes, that is still very prevalent what, 40 years later? not just boyfriends but also our teachers, mentors, fathers, etc. saying we cant do this, we cant do that, they know better. and so many of us grow up internalizing it, hence "i". cuz when we ARE good at these things, these men act out their frustrations by abusing us. all bc they feel belittled by our talents.... lots of personal experience